Land torpedo



Feb. 1, 1944.. 1 3, 1-, .BJQRKMAN 2,340,299

LAND TORPEDO Filed Aug. 17, 1942 Jrwwwtoal E harla s T- urkma'n Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNETED STATES LAND TORPEDO Charles T. Bjorkman, Alhambra, Calif. Application August 17, 1942, Serial No. 455,039 /2 1 Claim. (01. 102-2) (Granted under the act of March 3, amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to explosive filled containers which may be launched from a moving carrier against a military objective; it relates particularly to land torpedoes which may be launched from aircraft against land objectives.

The destruction or demolition of military objectives on land is usually effected or attempted by the use of heavy artillery firing high explosive shell, or by long range bomber aircraft carrying high explosive bombs. Such action, is however likely to be ineffective against objectives havin no substantially overhead or vertical approach, or against objectives adequately protected against attack from overhead. Such an objective, for example, is a railroad or other tunnel through a mountain, a supply depot protected by an overhanging bomb-proof shelter, or the like.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide an explosive filled container capable of movement along the ground after being launched from a carrier toward the objective. The container is rotatably supported on the carrier vehicle, preferably any suitable aircraft, and is given a predetermined speed of rotation before launching or release such that its rotation tends to propel the container along its path toward the objective. The container itself comprises a pair of shallow cup-shaped members secured together to form a cavity between them; the cavity is filled with any suitable explosive or incendiary charge.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l of the drawing is a side elevational view of a land torpedo made according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in section substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Shown in the drawing is a container 2 made up of a pair of shallow cup-shaped members 4 held together by any suitable securing means such as bolts 6 to form a cavity 8 filled with a suitable charge It such as a high explosive or an incendiary charge. The joint between members 4 may be sealed by a gasket l2. Charge l may be ignited by a booster charge M, which in turn is set off by a primer cap 16. Cap I6 is struck by pin l8, actuated by any suitable timing mechanism 28. Inasmuch as the timing means forms no part of this invention, the details thereof are not shown or discussed here.

The line X-X indicates an axis of symmetry, which is horizontal or preferably as nearly so as is practicable. The container is adapted to be rotated about axis XX in the direction indicated by arrow 22 where movement of the carrier vehicle is as indicated by arrow 24. In other words, container 2 is rotated so as to propel it along the round in the direction of motion of the carrier vehicle. That portion of the container which is to be in contact with the ground is of considerably heavier cross-section, as is indicated at 26, than other portions of the casing. This heavy cross-section tends to strengthen the container against failure due to the shock of sudden impact, but it also serves the important purpose of putting most of the containers mass as far as possible from the axis of rotation, thus increasing the gyroscopic effect of the rotating container, and increasing its rotary momentum. The gyroscopic effect is desirable for stability, and the high momentum is desirable to keep the torpedo in motion toward its objective. It is of course evident to those skilled in the art that the gyroscopic effect and rotary momentum are substantially identical mechanical phenomena in this case, but they are discussed separately because of the double purpose served.

Rotation about axis X-X is effected by one or more electric motors 21, 28 preferably mounted on supporting arms 39 and 32, having driving connection to container 2 through pinions 34, 36 and gears 38, 40 respectively, as shown. Motors 21, 28 have power supply connections, not shown, to a source of electric power, also not indicated, somewhere in the carrier vehicle.

Supporting arms 30 and 32 have spindles 42 which engage container 2 along the axis X-X. The arms are hingedly mounted at 44 on a shaft 46 secured in suitable structural members 48 of the carrier vehicle. Extensions 50 and 52 are secured to arms 30 and 32, respectively, and these are connected by toggle links 54 to actuating member 56, which extends upward into the carrier vehicle to a place where it is accessible to the operator. A downward push on member 56 operates through the toggle to rotate arms 30 and 32 apart, disengaging spindles 42 from their cooperating bearings 58 in gears 38 and M1.

Operation.-As the operator of the carrier vehicle nears the objective, he switches on the motor or motors which rotate the torpedo. When in position close to the objective, he presses release members 55 down to pivot arms 30 and 32 and their spindles out of engagement with the container. The rotating torpedo drops to the ground, and rolls toward the objective. After a predetermined time, depending upon the setting of the timing device, the charge explodes.

It will be seen that, for an objective such as a tunnel, it will be advantageous to launch several torpedoes, the timing devices of which are set at diflerent intervals to blast the tunnel at various places. the greatest penetration must be launched first I claim:

Obviously, the torpedo intended to have 10 In combination, an explosive filled container having an axis of symmetry and being substantially circular in sections perpendicular to that axis, support means for the container engaging it at the axis of symmetry, said support means being adapted to be secured to a carrier vehicle, and comprising a pair of hinged arms having spindles engaging the container at the axis of symmetry, means to rotate the container, and means to efiect release of the container from its support.

CHARLES T. BJORKMAN. 

